Ruptured cartridge extractor



SePf- 5, 1950 P. A. sPlNNAT 2,520,974

RUPTURED CARTRIDGE EXTRACTOR Filed Oct. 8, 1946 Fi' l gnou/Mofo- Puul A- Elph-muh: JWMWMf/M'Mffw Patented Sept. 5, 195() UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RUPTURED CARTRIDGE EXTRACTOR Paul A. Spnnato, New Haven, Conn.

Application October 8, 1946, Serial No. 7 01,859

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 3 Claims.

The invention described herein maybe manufactured and used by or for the Goverment and for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon. l This invention relates to improvements in extracting devices and is directed more particularly to the provision of an improved device for extracting ruptured cartridge cases from the barrels of firearms.

The problem of removal of a ruptured cartridge case is difficult. A cartridge case which ruptures in a firearm at a crucial moment in combat requires speedy extraction thereof. While various devices have been conceived for'the eX- traction of ruptured cases, such devices have been generally unsatisfactory.

Accordingly it is the principal object of this invention to provide a new and improved device whereby a ruptured cartridge case may be readily and speedily removed from the barrel of a rearm.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof willclearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the device of the invention in extracting position in the firearm;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top view of a portion of the device of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the rear end portion of the device of the invention;

Fig. 4 is an exploded view in perspective to show the forwardmost members of the device in disassembled relation; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

As will be described, the device of this invention is adapted to be introduced into the breech .end of the barrel of a firearm and is so constructed as to be capable of extracting a seized, ruptured, headless shell upon which no positive hold can otherwise be obtained.

Frequently the rims or anged heads of cartridge shells pull off during firing of the weapon so that the cases are left in the rearm. Obviously, such ruptured cases must be removed before the firearm can again be operated.

The device of this invention consists generally of a, longitudinally-extending implement which is adapted to be inserted into both the barrel B and the ruptured cartridge C. The device is adapted to forcibly remove the case, both with speed and ease, from the barrel and without injury to the firearm.

It includes a tubular collet-like member I0 which has a more or less arrow-shaped head portion I2 having a. ange-like rear surface I3 which is adapted to engage the forward edge of the 2 ruptured case. The member I0 is provided with one or more longitudinal slots I4 which extend rearwardly from the forward end thereof and terminate short of the rear end thereof in such a Way as to render the tube I0 expansible and according to the preferred form of the invention as shown in the drawings there are four equallyspaced such slots I4.

There is also a spindle member 20 having an enlarged forward end portion 22 and a rear end portion which is exteriorly threaded as indicated at 24. Said member 2) extends rearwardly into the opening of member Ill and its head part 22 is formed to have a conical surface 23 on its rear side which is adapted to mate with the interior faces 25 of the slotted forward end portion I2 of the member Ill. As will be explained, the arrangement is such that while the member I0 is more or less contractable so it may be readily inserted into the ruptured case C, it is, as previously stated, expansible so that after insertion to a sufcient extent the head I2 snaps over the lend of the case so that its surface I3 engages the forward edge thereof.

A nut-like body or housing member 25 is provided which has a forward face 28 adapted to be in bearing engagement with the rear end face 30 of barrel B. This said member 26 has an interiorly threaded bore as indicated and into this bore is threaded an elongated sleeve member 32.

The forward end portion of the member 32 is provided with a T-slot indicated by 34 in Fig. 2, while its rear end portion 36 is formed to be of an irregular or polygonal shape in order that the same may be engaged by pliers, a ratchet wrench, or some other suitable tool or implement when the device is being used for extracting the ruptured cartridge cases in the manner later` to be described. The said slot 34 has a reduced width at its forward end as shown in Fig. 5.

A joining or connecting member 4B has a forward portion 42 which threadedly engages the rear end portion of the spindle member 23 and a vrear end portion 44 which is seated in the abovementioned slot 34. The construction is such that an intermediate shank portion 45, which is of reduced diameter with respect to parts 42 and 44, may reside in the said reduced forward portion of the slot and the relative lengths of the wider portion of slot 34 of member 32 and part 44 of member 40 are such that the connector 40 may move longitudinally relative to the member 32.

A plunger member is inserted into the mem- 5 ber 32 and it is of such length and so arranged that its forward end portion threadedly engages the rear part 44 of the joining member 4!! which is threaded interiorly. A coil-spring 52 of conventional construction surrounds the plunger 50.

When the extracting device has been. inserted 2,520,974 f i ,Q

sufficiently into the cartridge so that the head 22 of the spindle member 20 and'the'head portion i2 of tubular member l0 is in advance of the forward marginal edge of the cartridge case C, the

barrel B.

For reasons of explanation of the'inventio'n' it'f may be stated that a female type ratchet wrench has been found useful to position' the 'extractor' into the breech end of the barrel of a machinev gun, regardless of whether theisame is in .gun

position on the ground or in aircraft. Although p when the device of the invention is 'used in connection with ball turrets, it is preferable to use a ratchetwrench whic'hvis flexible.

Thereupon, in order to operate the device and bringfabout extraction of the cartridge case, the member '32Y will be-*moved outwardly through r'otation thereof andthis in turn willl causerearward movement lof the rod member 20 andsubsequentremoval ofthe casefrom what may be referred to as a seized position withinthe barrel. After the case has been moved rearwardly to a 'suicient extent, compression of spring 52 results in adpopping-out action of the latter so vthat ejection of theruptured cartridge case is practically automatic.

In operation, pressure is applied to the plunger element. Thisfallows the parts I0, 20 and 49, which as' explained, are what may be called 'ex'- ibly' associated with one another, to move further into therbarrelrv B at the same time that the spring 52"-is'compressed against shoulder 6B which is'providedwithin part`32, as shown.

vAs a. consequence, member l will move 'for- 1 wardly a suiicient'distance in order to snap over the forward edge ofthe ruptured cartridge. The member lil, being expansible, as stated, will vremain in this cartridge-engagingl position and at this time the spring 52 will allow the parts to returnftortheir original positions, which is to mean that the head part 22 of spindle member 20 locks the shoulder of collet member' l0 imposition,

Then, while housing member 2e remains xed barrel a Vfirearm comprising in combination, a`

cone headedcoll'et member with a Vreduced body portionv thereby providing an annular shoulder therebetween and having a bore therethrough terminating in a conical interior surface in said headed portion, said headed portion comprising resil- 1 ient 4members provided to contract when inserted throughthe bore ofV the ruptured cartridge oase,

a cone headed spindle member disposed within said collet member adapted to expand said/resilient members whereby the front rim of the ruptured cartridge is engaged by`saidshoulder, a member having -a threaded borethereinf, a sleeve member threadably engaged Vwithin said housing member releasaely engaged with said spindle member whereby rotating saidV sleeve 4 member causes said housing member to bear 'against the rear end yf'acefof ,thev barrer and said spindle member-to bedrawh rearwardly extracting the cartridge case from the barrel.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a device for extracting a ruptured cartridge case from the barrel of a firearm comprising in combination, a'cohehaded collet member with a reduced body portion thereby providing an annular shoulder therebetween andhaving a bore therethrough terminating in a conical interior surface in said headed portion, said headed portion comprising resilient membersV provided to contract when insortedY through the bore of the ruptured cartridge case, a cone headed spindle member disposed within said' Acollet member-adapted to expand saidvr resilient members 'whereby theefront rim of the ruptured cartridge is-engaged by said shoulder, a housing member havinga threaded bore" therein',- a sleeve member threadably engaged within saidhousing membrand provided witha l'e'slot in'its -vforw'ard-endf-portion, aconnec'tingv member'having its forward end -threadably engaged with said spindle member-'land its 'rear-eiidpoi'tionlseated in said-T-`slot of Asaid sleeve member whereby' rotating said sleeve member causes' said housing member to bear againstthe rear end -face of the barrel and saidl Spindle member to Jbe drawn rearwardly extracting the cartridgecase'irom the barrel;

3. As a new article ofmanufacture, Aa device for extracting a ruptured cartridge case from the barrel-of" 'a rearm comprising in combination, a cone headed collet member with# a reduced body Apol-"tion 'thereby providing anV annular' shoulder therebetween and having a bore therethrough terminating-ina conical interior Surface in-said Yheaded portion, said headdportin comprising resilient members provided Lto contract whenl intridge case, a cone headed spindle member disposed within s'a'id-fcollet member adaptedto ^ex pand 'said resilient-members whereby the Afront rim of the ruptured cartridge is engaged by said 'Shulde'1", a housing 'member vhaving a threaded bore therein, a sleevefrnember threadably engaged within said housing'member and provided with a T-slotfiiiits forwardendportinfsaid sleeve member having av bore inthe rear end portiori land asmaller hole c .')'nnectin`gsaid borev and said T-slot, a springf'fpre'esed plunger slidably mount-ed in said -bore of vsaid sleeve, a connecting member having a threaded hole in the rear end port-ionto thread'ably secure said spring pressed plunger; said connecting member'ha-ving its for'- wai-dond tFiread-b'ly engaged with said spindle member andl its rear end'f'seated in saidY T-slot (it-said rsleeve membery whereby rotating said sleeve member causes said 'housing' member Vto bear against the rear' end-,face of thebarrel and said spindle-member to be drawn rearwardly extracting--thecartridge case from the barrel;

PAUL A. SPNNM ATO.v

REFERENCES einen The following references are of record :in the file of this-patent:`

UNITED- STATES PATENTS Wallace Aug. 13, 1918 

